Palestinians have expressed mixed opinions after French President Emmanuel Macron said he’d recognise a Palestinian state, with enthusiasm mitigated by the world’s failure to stem suffering in Gaza, AFP reports.

“We hope it will be implemented, and we hope that most or all countries around the world will follow France’s lead in recognising the Palestinian people’s right to an independent state,” said Nabil Abdel Razek, a resident of Ramallah, home to the Palestinian Authority.

Under the 1993 Oslo Accords, the PA was intended to be a building bloc towards the establishment of a state.

“The question for Palestinians is what will France do NOW about Israel starving them in Gaza,” Nour Odeh, a political commentator, wrote on X. Others also agreed that the main issue for Palestinians is Gaza.

“What France should have recognised is the genocide and taken measures to end it and end the occupation,” said Ines Abdel Razek, co-director of the Palestine Institute for Public Diplomacy (PIPD).

In an interview with AFP, she said France should cut relations with Israel and impose a trade embargo.

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